Chicago Bears ready to move on after bittersweet ending

Tuesday

Jan 25, 2011 at 12:01 AMJan 25, 2011 at 7:38 AM

LAKE FOREST — Less than 24 hours after their season-ending loss to their rivals from Green Bay, the Chicago Bears felt like they were beginning to see things clearly again, coming to the realization that this was a team that finished among the best after being picked to finish among the worst.

Jay Taft

LAKE FOREST — Less than 24 hours after their season-ending loss to their rivals from Green Bay, the Chicago Bears felt like they were beginning to see things clearly again, coming to the realization that this was a team that finished among the best after being picked to finish among the worst.

“Last week there were four teams feeling real good about themselves. Today, there were two. In two weeks, there will only be one,” Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said. “That’s just part of it. In football, you learn to live with the disappointments. (Sunday) was a huge disappointment.

“But we feel good about the nucleus of this football team, the foundation we’ve laid, and the nucleus moving forward.”

For much of the season, the Bears were far from disappointing to their fans. Chicago was downed by the Packers 21-14 in Sunday’s NFC Championship game, but not before rolling to the NFC North crown, getting to the playoffs for the first time in four years and advancing to the conference title game.

Of course, nothing will take away all of the sting that’s left over after their rally from a 14-0 deficit ended with a last-minute interception deep in Packers territory.

“It’s a difficult way to end the season, but once you get through this, the season as a whole, I think there’s a lot you can take from it,” tight end Greg Olsen said. “Not many people gave us a chance to do much, and then we made it to the NFC Championship game, and were seven points away from the Super Bowl.”

For some players — like quarterback Caleb Hanie, who had by far his best game as a Bear — the end leaves a sweet, and a sour, taste in their mouths.

“That’s a good way to put it: It’s kind of bittersweet. We had the opportunity, looked good at times but didn’t finish the job,” said Hanie, who replaced Todd Collins and led the Bears on two scoring drives. “It kind of gives you a little lift. Losing the game doesn’t feel good for the offseason, but getting some game experience and some game tape gives you a little lift for the offseason. It gives you a little boost to go work out hard.”

Angelo insists it will be a month or so before he will even begin to discuss which free-agent players will be targeted for a return, and who they may go after in the open market. Of course it will be an offseason in limbo with players and owners still far apart when it comes to a collective bargaining agreement. Many believe a lockout is looming.

Regardless of when they resume playing, the Bears feel like they will be back in the hunt for a title soon.

Everyone who was in the Halas Hall locker room cleaning out their gear Monday said the window for a championship is still open for this team.

“I’d have to be a dummy not to think so. I’m coming back knowing that I’m going to be playing for a Super Bowl,” cornerback Charles Tillman said. “That’s why we come back. That’s why we’re here in the offseason. That’s why we’re down in Bourbonnais for training camp. We all have that one common goal, and that’s winning a championship.”

Bears reporter Jay Taft can be reached at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.